Omega Pharma - Quick-Step Cycling Team rider Nikolas Maes was the top finisher in 198.4km Halle-Ingooigem on Wednesday, finishing 11th in a bunch sprint after the race came back together in the final 10km.
Kenny Dehaes (Lotto-Belisol) won the stage, with Luka Mezgec (Argos-Shimano) placing 2nd and Nacer Bouhanni (FDJ) placing 3rd.
Pieter Serry, Kevin De Weert, and Guillaume Van Keirsbulck of OPQS made a 12 rider breakaway. The gap grew to about 5'17" at its largest. However, the escape eventually reduced to just Serry and three others riders after the break continued to splinter with passing climbs and a fast tempo in the finishing circuit. Two other riders attacked with a little more than 12.4km to go, but that was also brought back with more than enough time for the possibility of a sprint finish.
